Three questions: United exec Torbjorn "Toby" Enqvist

Torbjorn "Toby" Enqvist admits the perks were a big factor in his career choice.

Originally from Sweden, Enqvist thought working for an airline would be a good way to get discount flights home to see his parents. Although it wasn’t his original career plan, once he was in, he was hooked. Now, 16 years later, he’s still in the business and enjoying his job.

In October, Enqvist stepped into a new role as vice president of United’s Newark Liberty International Airport hub. He will also oversee the airline’s operations at John F. Kennedy International and LaGaurdia airports in New York. His office is based in Newark, which is somewhat of a homecoming for Enqvist.

When he was vice president of real estate for Continental, he was responsible for rebuilding parts of the company’s terminal in Newark in the early 2000s. Most recently, he served as the airline’s vice president of security and environmental affairs.

Dealing with change has been one of the biggest challenges of Enqvist’s career. Whether it was the changes that jolted the industry following 9/11, Continental’s merger with United or his own personal responsibilities and shifting job titles over the years, Enqvist said he sees the value in being able to adjust and adapt.

Enqvist’s return to the Newark area was prompted by the airline merger — United expects to finish integrating Continental into its folds sometime next year. He is currently living in Battery Park, N.Y. with his wife, who is three months pregnant.

Toby Enqvist spoke to The Star-Ledger about the airline industry.

Q. How have you been able to adjust to your role as vice president?A. It hasn’t been bad so far. I’ve had different jobs in my career at the airline. The biggest thing here is that it’s so much more people work. Before it was more handling vendors, contractors, and a smaller team. Here there are so many team members you have to manage. I think the most people I had before was 150 and now, depending on who you count with all the stations we have about 14,000 people in the three airports.

But it has been really exciting and what I really like is that it’s really cool to work at an airport. I spent most of my time at the headquarters before. So to be out this close to the airplanes and to walk around on the tarmac and be up in the tower, it’s energetic. I’m really enjoying it.

Q. What has been the biggest challenge in the merger of United and Continental?A. The biggest challenge is probably how big we are. I think people underestimate how much stuff goes on behind the scenes. I think the biggest challenge has been having two different reservation systems. There are so many different technology systems — payroll, weight and balance, etc. — because we’re two totally different companies. It’s like Macintosh versus Windows, but on steroids.

It’s time-consuming. Most people just reading in the paper see "United and Continental approved merger." But then it takes 12 months for the FAA to review it and to make sure we can get an operating certificate. Then it takes six months to do another process. People don’t see that it’s thousands and thousands of people working two jobs, their normal job and then their integration job, just to make this thing happen. And customers and sometimes our own friends and family don’t understand why it takes so long.

The biggest thing will be the conversion into one reservation system, which will be in the first quarter of 2012. I think when we’re done with that we’ll really turn the corner. I’m excited not just for New York, but for the company in general.

Q. What advice would you offer someone interested in entering the airline industry?A. Be flexible and open minded. When they walk out of school people usually have those ideas. Maybe you think ‘I want to do X.’ But be a little flexible. Maybe you want to do X, but start out by trying Y, because at the end of the day what you’re going to find out is that you’re really good at C. I think we’re too specific in what we want. I know I was. I wanted to be an investment banker and I tried it. I ended up taking a job at an airline. It was a great decision for me. Be open to trying things. I’ve done five or six different things at the airline and I’ve learned and developed more each time.